open test kitchen

It's happening! Board games and hand-pulled noodles, in the same room, on a Thursday night. We're teaming up with @lil_devil_noodles for a one-night collab at @opentestkitchen . I'll have a curated box of games — easy party games, some strategic favorites, and a few you might not have seen before — plus folks on hand to teach. Lil Devil will be behind the counter pulling fresh noodles to order. OTK's bar will be open. Whether you've played hundreds of board games or none, drop in anytime. 🗓 Thursday, May 21 · 6–9 PM 📍 Open Test Kitchen (aka Oakland Bloom), 528 8th St., Oakland Chinatown p.s. HUGE thank you to @superkritter for your work on this poster!

cariños, we will be closed tomorrow, Friday 5/14 because the team will be away for a retreat 🥰🌞🌻 we will resume service next Wednesday 5/20 at our regular hours (9am-2pm). hope to see you all next week!

Swipe ➡️ for a sneak peek of SETTING THE TABLE: A Sonic Installation of Food, Belonging & Migration. We’re putting on the final touches and can’t wait for you to experience this interactive exhibition soon! While our opening event on May 22 is now sold out, #SETTINGTHETABLE will be available for public viewing at: 📍@otk_eats ‣ 528 8th St. Oakland May 23–June 4 • Wed-Fri, 9AM–2PM 📍@chapter510 ‣ 546 9th St. Oakland June 5, 12, 19 • 11AM–5PM ✨ SETTING THE TABLE is an interactive exhibition featuring nine audio stories from immigrant, refugee, and diasporic community members living in the East Bay, on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded lands of the Chechenyo-speaking Ohlone and Bay Miwok peoples. This table of stories and food memories draws connections to Mexico, Panama, Nigeria, Laos, the Philippines, Thailand, Jamaica, Pakistan, Iran, Guatemala, and the African American diaspora. This project is grounded in the belief that food brings us together, that gathering can be joyful, and that there is room for everyone. This project is a collaboration between @voiceofwitness , @gems_storytelling , and @ramikd.art , with funding provided by @cwfcollab . Special thanks to @oaklandbloom and @chapter510 for hosting the exhibition. 💛

🎚️ INTRODUCING: OPEN DECK KITCHEN 🎶🍳 🎧 A new community-centered music series coming to @otk_eats on Sunday, May 31 from 11AM–3PM ❤️‍🔥 This one’s for the emerging DJs, the bedroom DJs, the homies learning transitions, the selectors who’ve been wanting to practice in front of a crowd, or anyone who simply wants to hop on the decks & vibe out 🎧 ✨ 30-minute DJ sets ✨ First come, first served sign-ups, bring ya laptop 💻 ✨ Open format — come experiment, practice, jam, or bring the energy ✨ A supportive space to build confidence & community through music 🍴 Food by @palestiniancubanfusion ☕️ Drinks by @cafeconcarino_oak & @otk_eats 🛍️ Vendor market curated by @baddiesybanda This is a FREE community event — donations are welcome to help support future programming ❤️ Please RSVP to help us get a headcount of how many guests to expect 🙏🏽 Whether you’re spinning or just pulling up for good music, good food & good people, this is your Sunday function 😮‍💨 Tag your DJ homie that needs to sign up 👀 📍 Open Test Kitchen — Oakland 🗓️ Sunday, May 31 ⏰ 11AM–3PM 🎟️ LINK IN BIO #OpenDeckKitchen #OaklandEvents #BayAreaDJs #EmergingDJs BayAreaEvent

May game nights! Three chances to gather, play, and meet new folks this month! Thu, May 14 - Board Game Night @discover_community_cafe , 6-9pm Thu, May 21 - Board Game & Noodles Night @otk_eats , 6-9pm. Featuring @lil_devil_noodles slinging hand-pulled noodles alongside the games 🍜 Sat, May 30th - TTRPG Night @discover_community_cafe , 5:30-9pm! The long-awaited return! All experience levels welcome - bring a favorite from your shelf of try something new from ours. See you at the table! p.s. Want to teach a favorite game or GM a one-shot? Message us and we’ll help you get set up! We’ll even comp you a share of the evening’s donations!

Who's ready for QUEER PROM🌈👑 It's Spring time so that means it's time for another Queer Prom on Saturday May 30th from 12pm to 4pm at Open Test Kitchen. 🌹Queer Con Leche is a joyful daytime dance gathering centering Afro Latin music and queer community. The event celebrates queer Latinx culture (and it's vast diversity), movement, and connection through music and shared space. We welcome everyone at Queer Con Leche to tap into joy in a safe community space. We seek to uplift our community & local artists/creatives, we hope you will support our vision! Calling all May babies! Come celebrate your birthday with us! Dm us to get on our free guest list along with special perks for you and your friends. We will hold a birthday dance and bring cupcakes to sing you happy birthday! 🔸️12pm-1pm: Beginner friendly Bachata class w/ Supernova 🔸️1pm- 4pm: Social dancing w/ DJ Rumorosa in the mix with your fave bachata, salsa, cumbia, merengue! 🔸️2pm: Performances & Birthday song/dance. 🔸️2:30pm: Best Dressed Contest What else can you expect: 🍹Cocktails and mocktails by Open Test Kitchen 🌈Queer vendors 🕺🏽Performances (including me!) 💲Pre-sale: Link in bio 🔸️Priority QT Black & Indigenous folk $10 🔸️Sliding scale (for all else) $15-25 🔸️At the door: $25 🔸️No one turned away for a lack of funds All ticket sales are final. This event is 18 and up. Online tickets close 4/18/26 at 8pm. 😷This event is mask required & provided (KF94|KN95|N95) indoors. 💨Air purifier present & covid tracing implemented All drinks and food must be consumed outside in our parklet, masks must be kept on at all times indoors. As a friendly reminder if you are feeling ill of have come in contact with covid or the flu, please stay home, let's keep each other safe. This event is brought to you by Supernova & Open Test Kitchen #queerconleche #oakland #lgbtqia #danceparty #maskrequired

This one is for the mamas, caregivers, friends and fam! Join us at @otk_eats on Saturday May 9 for a special Mother’s Day brunch, crafting, coffee and drinks, 11A-3P. We’ll be celebrating all the caregivers in our lives, with the flavors and folk art of Colombia. @mecatokitchen will be serving up a special menu : 💫 empanadas, 💫 ceviche, 💫 ajiaco and 💫 banteja paisa. Plus, we’ll have floral headpiece crafting hosted by @cumbiadiana - create your own as a gift for someone you love or yourself 🌺🌼🌸. Pairs perfectly with signature lattes, cafe de olla cold brew and teas by @cafeconcarino_oak , and intentionally sourced + handcrafted bar drinks by @otk_eats You’re invited -- come through and celebrate your loved ones with us! RSVP on Eventbrite. Link in bio. WHERE: Open Test Kitchen 528 8th Street Oakland WHEN: Saturday, May 9 ⏰11AM - 3PM #brunch #oakland #oaklandevents

Día de las madres brunch menu drop 🇨🇴 A celebration centered around colombian food, drinks, floral crafts and community All ages are welcome, we look forward to seeing all of you and your families. 🇨🇴 food by @mecatokitchen ☕ cafecito by @cafeconcarino_oak 🥂 cocktails by @otk_eats 🌸 floral crafts by @cumbiadiana ✨Saturday May 9 / 11-3pm 📍 528 8th st, oakland

Join us for the opening of our brand new exhibition 🍽️ SETTING THE TABLE: A Sonic Installation of Food, Belonging & Migration! 📅 Friday, May 22 ⏰ 5:30–7:30 PM 📍 @otk_eats ‣ 528 8th St. Oakland 🎟️ FREE with RSVP: setting-the-table.eventbrite.com (link in bio) #SETTINGTHETABLE is an interactive exhibition featuring nine audio stories from immigrant, refugee, and diasporic community members living in the East Bay, on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded lands of the Chechenyo-speaking Ohlone and Bay Miwok peoples. This table of stories and food memories draws connections to Mexico, Panama, Nigeria, Laos, the Philippines, Thailand, Jamaica, Pakistan, Iran, Guatemala, and the African American diaspora. This project is grounded in the belief that food brings us together, that gathering can be joyful, and that there is room for everyone. Please stop by during this happy hour-style gathering to experience the exhibit and chat with project collaborators! Light refreshments will be provided. ✨SETTING THE TABLE is a collaboration between @voiceofwitness , @gems_storytelling , and @ramikd.art , with funding provided by @cwfcollab . We're thrilled to partner with @oaklandbloom for this launch event. Following the opening celebration, the exhibit will be available for public viewing at Open Test Kitchen through June 4 (Wed-Fri, 9am-2pm).

We have events all throughout May! Come find us around Oakland and Berkeley, say hi, and have some noodles!

Happy May Day Everyone! Our May calendar of events and pop-ups at @otk_eats is here (more coming soon - watch this space): 🌹Saturday, May 2 - 11A, join @that.art.party , @cafeconcarino_oak and @palestiniancubanfusion for Cafecito and Crafts 🌹Saturday, May 9 - 11A, Celebrate Mother’s Day with us - @mecatokitchen , @cafeconcarino_oak and @cumbiadiana will be hosting a Colombian brunch and floral headpiece crafting experience 🌹Wednesday, May 20 - 11A, @tsiripurepecha lunch pop up 🌹Thursday, May 21, 6P, come hang out and enjoy hand-made noodles and bites at OTK Game Night with @tenth.tale.games and @lil_devil_noodles 🌹Friday, May 22 - Setting the Table Exhibit opening with @voiceofwitness , @gems_storytelling and @chiri_cana 🌹Saturday, May 23 - 11A, Spill Session by @boss.ideahouse and @cafeconcarino_oak 🌹Saturday, May 30 - 12P, Queer con Leche Bachata dance class and COVID-safe Afro-Latin dance party with @supernova_mermaid @queerconleche 🌹Sunday, May 31 - 11A, @baddiesybanda is back, with @cafeconcarino_oak . More details coming soon! 🌹Sunday, May 31 - 5P, Sunday Social, with @palestiniancubanfusion + DJ El Nautico bringing Palestinian-Cuban bites and beats. Links in bio. ⛳ Open Test Kitchen REGULAR HOURS: Wednesdays - Fridays 9A to 2P by @cafeconcarino_oak and @palestiniancubanfusion 528 8th Street Oakland We honor the work, creativity, passion and vision of all those who are holding such important spaces for our communities to gather and connect - in storytelling, crafting, play, dance, joy, healing, organizing, and imagining + shaping new worlds. Your work is essential - THANK YOU 💖💖💖